The Western Business Alliance, a new community business group, will hold its first social event Thursday, Oct. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the White Elephant restaurant in the original Wellington Mall.
The event will serve to introduce the group to the community, showcasing the uniqueness of the Western Business Alliance.
“We’re different in more of going back to that old school of people do business with people they know, like, trust, and really building the relationships among others,” said Selena Smith, spokeswoman for the group.
Formed earlier this year, the group is designed to serve the western communities and the Glades. Future events include luncheons, mixers and workshops, where the alliance will provide educational programs and tools.
Smith said the group was formed because the founding members saw a need for such an organization in the community. Currently, there are more than 40 member businesses.
“We found that there really wasn’t an organization in the area that was really serving our needs or helping us to generate revenue or create new relationships,” Smith said.
Founding officers include Chairman Ron Tomchin, Vice Chairman Eric Gordon, Secretary Claudia Camacho and Treasurer Hope Barron. They are assisted by board members Ken Bell, Marcia Berwick, Mario Camacho, Don and Maureen Gross, Lynne Keane, Selena Smith, Martha Webster, Peter Wein and legal counsel John Marinelli.
Business relationships drew Don Gross to the alliance. “I am part of the Western Business Alliance due to the fact that we’re looking for a way for small business owners to be able to get together to make better friendships so we can work together to grow each other’s businesses,” he said.
The underlying theme of the group will be to build a network where members feel comfortable making referrals.
“Rather than it being a cold call, looking for new business, if somebody has met somebody at one of our networking events, it now becomes a warm call where they’re able to go out and meet that person because they’ve already started that relationship,” Gross said.
To register for the Thursday, Oct. 16 social at the White Elephant (12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 20A), visit www.thewesternbusinessalliance.com/free-registration.
For more information about the organization, visit www.thewesternbusinessalliance.com or www.facebook.com/twballiance.
